anxiety worse in the mornings, why?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:28 pm

I use to be like that but I get out of bed right away before I start thinking about the day or anything, seems to help me.
to mmk22 I know what you mean about your coffee, I'm the same way about my 1 daily piece of chocolate, I am not ready to give that up, it's one of the things that I look forward to

~*schnauzermom*~ · Post by **~*schnauzermom*~** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:43 pm

For me, anxiety had been up until recently acting up in the morning. I have been going through stress and nonsense at work--this is the reason for my AM anxiety.

Hope that helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:34 pm

I have had the same problem. I find that it helps to wake up with a long "gratitude list" instead of a long to-do list. (I"m grateful I woke up, grateful for my boyfriend, my kitties, etc.) Think of one thing you will do today that gives you pleasure. Then be good to yourself. Your to-do list will take care of itself!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:05 am

I can relate. Sometimes I wonder why am I anxious if nothing has happened in my day yet. I cannot not give up my morning coffee but I have limited it to a few sips. I have noticed that when I exercise in the morning it does help in that I am less anxious. Yesterday I had a great day because I wasn't anxious at all but this morning I woke up with feeling slightly anxious. Go Figure. I definitely would recommend exercising. Not only is it good for you but it does help mentally.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:29 am

YES I can totally relate to anxious mornings!!!!!!!!
I HATE the mornings. That's when most of my anxiety symptoms come to the surface.
I dread another morning of dealing with the horrendous commute I have to work. It actually keeps me awake thru the night and then by the a.m.
alarm rings I am tired and wish I can sleep more.
I actually believe that if I can get another job closer to my house a lot of this anxiety I have experiencing will get better.
I DREAD going to work in the a.m. it's such a hassle. The traffic is horrendous and then when I get there parking is limited so I have to park a few blocks away and walk to the building.
I have been chronically late about a year or so ago (5 or 10 minutes) and I was told by my boss
that I will be FIRED if I am late. SO THIS THREAT has made me feel very uncomfortable and
I stress out every morning about getting to work on time- sometime I stress out SO much that I do
procrastinate and leave later than I am suppose to. VERY FRUSTRATING!! I am currently looking
for a better job & with a better location so I hope I will find something soon.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:49 am

I get similar anxiety first thing in the morning sometimes also and I'm not working at a job I hate anymore. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that your adrenaline levels are supposedly at it's highest between 5 and 6AM? I start with a positive affirmation and gratitude now. See if it helps. Also do a yoga sun salutation and make myself eat something right away for blood sugar levels. Come to think of it, this has helped.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:59 am

I've had some pretty bad anxiety first thing in the morning also. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that our adrenaline levels are supposedly at their highest between 5 and 6 AM? I make myself eat something first thing in the morning for the blood sugar, do my yoga sun salutation, and try to do some kind of positive affirmation to set the day. Come to think of it, this has helped..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:02 am

was having trouble getting this posted. Did it twice so no, I'm not losing my mind yet.!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:05 pm

It is so good to hear I am not alone. I also wondered if morning anxiety has to do with the change in hormones that occur right before you wake up (my doctor told me this happened). Of course, as soon as I made this post I had a day when the anxiety was gone in the a.m. but surfaced after lunch. I like the idea of a gratitude list. And the "Don't anyone talk to me hour!" But I am not sure my family would go for it. My anxiety is actually LESS on days I go to work, I think because I am distracted doing what I need to do. Maybe on days I am home, I will make a rule "No doing anything on my to-do list before 9 am"...then I won't feel stressed to get going right away. I KNOW low blood sugar makes my anxiety worse, so I should make sure to eat first. I usually lie in bed (sometimes for an hour) after waking when I think I wake up too early, so that is good advice to just go ahead, get up, and eat.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:13 pm

I will try more positive talk first thing in the morning. I tend to focus on "oh I lost an hour of sleep because the cats woke me up" but now I try to turn around to "I got 7 hours of sleep. That's pretty good!"

It is definitely harder when you have kids waking you up.

Did everyone you see Mary Wargo's post about the rush of adrenaline that your body normally gives off in the early morning just before waking up (my doctor told me this too). So we should try hard to tell ourselves "this is just my body doing its normal morning thing. Oh well."